The High Court in Blantyre has adjourned the murder trial of late Dr Victoria Bobe to November 30 2026, when it will rule on whether the seven suspects have a case to answer.
High Court Judge Ruth Chinangwa announced the adjournment Tuesday after the State completed presenting its 10 witnesses, with the final witness being a security guard who was on duty at Bobe’s residence on the night of the murder.
Julius Mwanamanga told the court that he had been assigned to guard Bobe’s house because the regular guard was on leave.
“I was in my guardroom that night when armed robbers came with their faces covered. They attacked me and tied me up together with two others before they started breaking into the house,” he said.
Mwanamanga said he could not identify the attackers because their faces were covered, but heard a gunshot shortly after they attacked him and another after they left the house.
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Earlier, the State paraded police officer John Julius Makolija, firearms expert Lawrence Gondwe and medical personnel Steve Kamiza.
Kamiza told the court that Bobe suffered a gunshot wound to the head, with the bullet passing through her head and later being found on the bed.
He said a post-mortem examination was conducted but no DNA test was carried out to establish who had handled the firearm.
“I did not see the person who shot her because I was not there during the incident,” Kamiza said during cross-examination.
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Gondwe told the court that the firearm used was a semi-automatic rifle with a 20-round capacity. However, he said he could not identify the person who fired it or confirm whether any of the suspects had used the weapon.
“I did not see the gun being shot. I did not see the person shooting,” he said.
Makolija told the court that one of the suspects, Charles Chikafa, allegedly confessed that the group had been assisted by Bobe’s security guard, Peter Mphepo, to reach her residence.
Defence lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta cross-examined the State witnesses, seeking to challenge their evidence.
Speaking after the adjournment, State lawyer Abdul Limbe said the State was satisfied with the progress of the case and would prepare written submissions to assist the court in determining whether the suspects have a case to answer.
Bobe, who was a doctor at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, was murdered at her residence in Chigumula, Blantyre, on November 17, 2025.
